An elderly man (left) receives the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine as an elderly woman (2nd right) in the next cubicle speaks with a staff, at a Community Vaccination Centre set up in the Exhibition Gallery of the Hong Kong Central Library, on Feb 23, 2021. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The Hong Kong government will set up COVID-19 Vaccination Stations in four public hospitals starting next Monday to enable visiting patients to receive BioNTech shots.

With vaccination stations set up in Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, Caritas Medical Centre and Prince of Wales Hospital, the number of public hospitals having such facilities will rise to seven. Vaccination stations at Queen Mary Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Tuen Mun Hospital launched the service last month.

All patients visiting the hospitals for follow-up appointments and visitors, particularly those going to specialist out-patient clinics, can receive BioNTech vaccines without prior booking when they have their follow-up medical consultation, according to a government press release.

Given the threat posed by mutant strains, their vaccination rate should raise further as they have a comparatively higher risk of falling seriously ill and dying brought by COVID-19 infection.

Patrick Nip, Secretary for the Civil Service, HKSAR

"The vaccination rate for elderly persons has increased recently. However, given the threat posed by mutant strains, their vaccination rate should raise further as they have a comparatively higher risk of falling seriously ill and dying brought by COVID-19 infection,” Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen said on Friday. 

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To boost the vaccination rates, the government earlier set up vaccination stations in three public hospitals as a pilot scheme and an average of about 200 people received vaccination at those stations every day, he said. “After evaluation, the government has decided to expand the scheme to enable more elderly persons to receive vaccination when they have their follow-up medical consultation at specialist out-patient clinics in hospitals."

The vaccination stations operate from 10 am to 7 pm on weekdays, excepting public holidays, with no lunch break. The last slot for vaccination is at 6:30 pm. 

Arrangements will be made for people being vaccinated to have their second dose injection at the same vaccination station or another community vaccination center, the press release said, adding that those opting for the Sinovac vaccine will be referred to a nearby community vaccination center.

READ MORE: Govt adviser: HK shouldn't open up until vaccination hits 80%

The locations of the vaccination stations are as follows:

Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Station

Address: Hospital Hall, G/F, East Block, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, 3 Lok Man Road

Tseung Kwan O Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Station

Address: Function Room, 1/F, Ambulatory Care Block, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, 2 Po Ning Lane, Hang Hau

Caritas Medical Centre COVID-19 Vaccination Station

Address: Function Room (Room 1069), 1/F, Wai Ming Block, Caritas Medical Centre, 111 Wing Hong Street

Prince of Wales Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Station

Address: 2/F, Day Treatment Block and Children Wards, Prince of Wales Hospital, 30-32 Ngan Shing Street

Queen Mary Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Station

Address: 3rd Floor, Block S, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road

Queen Elizabeth Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Station

Address: G/F, Ambulatory Care Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 30 Gascoigne Road

Tuen Mun Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Station

Address: G/F, Main Block, Tuen Mun Hospital, 23 Tsing Chung Koon Road